The 29-year-old told TNT: "They pulled all the strings to get me here, and I wanted to be here, you know, and I want to retire in New York, let's be quite frank.

"I think a lot of people jumped the gun when I said I wanted to be a free agent. And yeah, I want people to come to play in New York. I want them to want to play in New York. I want New York to be that place where guys want to come play in New York."

Carmelo, who had 22 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals during the team's 82-81 defeat to the Chicago Bulls last night, is in the penultimate year of his contract, but has the option to opt out of his last season.